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| Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Diaspora | |
|---|---|
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Cathedral in London | |
| Classification | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology | Eastern Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal polity |
| Prime Hierarch | Anthony (Scharba) (metropolitan) |
| Eparchies | 3 |
| Parishes | 24 |
| Language | Ukrainian, English, Spanish |
| Territory | Outside of Ukraine |
| Possessions | United States, South America, Western Europe, Australia |
| Origin | 1945 |
| Recognition | Autonomy granted and recognised on March 12, 1995 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople |
| Separated from | Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (in communion with Polish Orthodox Church) |
| Separations | Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA |
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Diaspora is an Eastern Orthodox Christian religious organization of Ukrainian diaspora under jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for parishes outside of the North America. It consists of three eparchies (dioceses), ruled by three bishops. The church's current leader is Metropolitan Antony who concurrently is a primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
Germany was initially the center of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Abroad due to the vibrant parish life fostered by the influx of immigration from Ukraine. As these immigrants continued on to North America and even Australia and New Zealand, however, the size of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Western Europe declined, and by the 1950s most of its hierarchy had relocated to North America, leaving two bishops, Metropolitan Polycarp (Sikorsky) of Lutsk and Archbishop Nicanor (Abramovych) of Chyhyryn, to care for the Ukrainian Orthodox Christians remaining in Western Europe.[1]
The Ukrainian Orthodox in Western Europe were divided between the two bishops, with Archbishop Nicanor supervising the remaining parishes in Germany and Metropolitan Polycarp, who had headed the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Ukraine during the war years under the oversight of Metropolitan Dionysius (Waledynski) of Warsaw, overseeing its communities in the rest of Western Europe as well as its fledgling parishes in Australia and New Zealand. Metropolitan Dionysius, during the Second World War, was known for collaborating with Nazis against the Soviet Union.[2]
When Metropolitan Polycarp reposed on 22 October 1953, Metropolitan Nicanor was elected first hierarch of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, with the North America-based Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) of Pereyaslav being elected deputy metropolitan in 1956.[3]
On 27 October 1991, Archimandrite John (Derewianka) was consecrated Bishop of London and Great Britain, in 1999 being placed over all the Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in Western Europe and in 2000 being given care of the Ukrainian Orthodox in Australia and New Zealand as well.
In October 2004, the ninth council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Diaspora nominated Archimandrite Andriy (Peshko) for election as auxiliary bishop for the church in Western Europe. Fr. Andriy was consequently elected Bishop of Krateia by the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople and, after his consecration in December 2004, took up oversight of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom. Bishop Andriy served in the diocese until his election in 2008 as auxiliary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Central Canada.[4]
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora is divided into three eparchies (dioceses):
In total, there are about 24 parishes (2020).[5] Also, there are 17 more parishes that became part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine following the 2018 unification assembly. Three more parishes declared that they would stay with Metropolitan Filaret.
| Name | Rank | Title | Consecration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Lead consecrator | |||
| Anthony Scharba | metropolitan | of Hierapolis | 1985 | Mstyslav Skrypnyk |
| Daniel Zelinsky | archbishop | of Pamphylia | 2008 | Constantine of Irinoupolis |
| Jeremiah Ferens | archbishop | of Aspendos | 1993 | Constantine of Irinoupolis |
Template:National Council of Churches members